Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
Sir Keir Starmer has acknowledged that transforming the country will require time and urged voters to evaluate his leadership at the next general election. Speaking to the BBC, he highlighted that his government had taken positive steps, especially in addressing the cost-of-living crisis, but stressed that further efforts were necessary. This statement comes amid a challenging period for the prime minister, who has been subject to mounting criticism and rumors of a potential leadership challenge. Additionally, the government faces a difficult upcoming Budget, with expectations that the chancellor will raise taxes.
While attending the G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sir Keir was questioned by the BBC’s Chris Mason about opinion polls showing him as the most unpopular prime minister in modern polling history. In response, he reminded that Labour’s election win last year was based on a manifesto promising to reverse 14 years of Conservative failure. He said, “I always said that would take time because you can’t turn around 14 years of failure in just 12 months or 16 months.” Starmer emphasized three key priorities: improving people’s financial situation by tackling the cost of living, investing in public services such as the NHS, and enhancing safety and security. He made it clear that he expected to be judged on these goals at the next election, which is scheduled for 2029 unless called earlier.
Recent weeks have seen a public revelation of tensions within Labour, with allies of Sir Keir warning they would resist any attempts by Labour MPs to oust him. Health Secretary Wes Streeting was named by some as a possible leadership contender, a claim he denied while criticizing what he called a “toxic” culture in Downing Street. Starmer has maintained that any attacks on Streeting did not originate from his office. On the political front, the opposition Conservatives have accused the government’s Budget plans of unraveling after the chancellor reportedly abandoned plans to raise income tax rates, a move that would have contradicted a previous election promise. When asked about sidelining other topics, Sir Keir expressed frustration, saying, “Every minute that is spent talking about anything other than cost-of-living is a wasted minute in my book.”
Looking ahead, Labour faces significant local elections in May, which are expected to be challenging. Speculation continues about whether a leadership challenge might emerge sooner, though any challenger would require the support of at least 80 MPs. While only a small number of Labour parliamentarians have called publicly for Sir Keir to step down, concerns about his leadership are more widespread behind the scenes. Notably, left-wing MP Nadia Whittome joined fellow Labour backbencher Clive Lewis in advocating for a new leader, stating, “Even if Keir Starmer had a radical change of direction, I don’t think people would believe him. And I don’t think people around him would allow that to happen. So I think there has to be a change in leadership, a change in personnel, of the people in Number 10, and a completely different direction for the party.” Other voices, like MP Rachael Maskell, have also suggested the prime minister should consider his position if the upcoming Budget does not meet expectations. Nevertheless, Sir Keir remains confident, recalling his past achievements in transforming the Labour Party and winning decisively last year. “I’m optimistic about the future of our country and I know that we can turn it around after 14 years of failure under the Conservatives,” he told the BBC
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.